Letter-box



(No Model.)

W. G. HELLER. LETTER BOX.

Patented Dec. 29, 1891.

i C i @515 AD w m UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM C. HELLER, OF MONTCLAIR, NElV JERSEY.

LETTER-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 466,036, dated December 29, 1891.

I Application filed August 11, 1891. Serial No. 402.331. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM C. HELLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Montclair, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Letter-Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a convenient and safe receptacle for letters, papers, and other mail-matter and possessing certain advantages over those heretofore in use, which advantages will be more particularly referred to hereinafter.

The invention consists in the improved letter-box and in the combination and arrangementof the several parts thereof, as herein set forth, and finally pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the several figures where they occur, Figure 1 represents in front elevation 21. letter-box embodying my improvements, and Fig. 2 a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 represents a vertical transverse section taken through line no of Fig. 1.

In said drawings, a indicates the back of the box or casin g, which is provided with screwholes a to admit the passage of screws for fastening it to a post or other suitable support. Other means and methods of fastening, however, may be employed, if desired. Said back is also providedwith sides I), a front 0, and a slanting top (Z, the latter projecting over the front 0, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3.

B indicates a receptacle for the letters or other mail-matter dropped therein, which is pivotally connected to the sides I) at 1), near the bottom, as shown, and swings outward when being opened to remove the contents therefrom. Said receptacle is provided with a lock e, which is adapted by means of an ordinary spring (not shown) to lock automatically, and is opened by means of a key, as will be understood upon reference to- Fig. 1, in

which is shown a key-hole e to receive the said key. Said receptacle is open at the back to the point f near the bottom g, from which point said bottom curves downward and outward, as shown in Fig. 3. When the receptacle is closed, the upper edge f of said bottom lies under a ledge or deflector 71, secured to or forming part of the back a, said deflector serving to guide the letters into the receptacle as they are dropped into the aperture h at the top, and preventing them from getting caught or injured when the receptacle is opened. Said aperture h at the top is closed and protected in the present instance. by means of a sliding door i, which works in suitable ways j, and is raised by means of a knob orfinger-piece 7twhen it is desired to expose the apertureto insert letters, &c., into the box, as Willbe understood. Said receptacleisarranged to close automatically by means of a springclamp Z, one end of which is secured to the easing at 1, its opposite end pressing against the front or outside of the receptacle, as will be u n derstood upon reference to the drawings, especially to Fig. Said clamp is also designed to hold papers or packages which may not-pass through the aperture h, but which can readily be inserted between the clamp and the front of the receptacle, as will be manifest.

It will be seen that the bottom of the sliding door is so constructed and arranged that it prevents the rain from beingdriven into the receptacle through the joint at the top thereof or through the aperture. It will also be seen that the deflector may be located higher up on the back CL and the edge of the bottom or back of the receptacle be raised accordingly.

Having thus described my invention,what I I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is

1. The improvedletter-box herein described,

which consists of an outer casing having a ledge or deflector at the back,a slanting cover projecting over the front of said casing, and an aperture through which to insert letters or other matter, closed by a suitable cover, combined with a letter-receptacle pivotally secured to said casing near the bottom thereof and having a bottom, the upper edge of which lies beneath the ledge or deflector aforesaid,

means for locking the latter, substantially as to and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of July, 1801.

WILLIAM C. HELLER.

Witnesses:

OSCAR A. MICHEL, OLIVER DRAKE. 

